Category Archives: Food

Questions #5: Sandwich Fillings

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We’re getting peckish once again at Platinum Al’s Virtual Hot Tub.  Time for a snack.  How about a sandwich, filled with whatever you like?

Here’s the proposition.  The Virtual Hot Tub snack bar will create any sandwich you like, with up to three fillings.  You can have whatever bread you want, and as much salad as you can cram in there – a bit like Subway.

Except grated carrot.  Why would anyone want carrot on a sandwich???

Anyway, just pick three items to fill your sandwich with.  The Virtual Hot Tub sandwich makers will put it together for you, whatever you like.

Q: Which three items would you pick for your ideal sandwich filler?

Jayne

  1. Chicken
  2. Bacon
  3. Cheese

Jack

  1. Pepperoni
  2. Cheese
  3. Bacon

Si

  1. Meatballs
  2. Onion
  3. Cheese

Terry

  1. Ham
  2. Cheese
  3. Bacon

Dan

  1. Chicken
  2. Bacon
  3. Cheese

Ash

  1. Sausage
  2. Bacon
  3. Cheese

Joe

  1. Beef
  2. Ham
  3. Cheese

Natasha

  1. Cottage pie
  2. Sausage & mash

Stu

  1. Sausage
  2. Fried egg
  3. Hash brown

Ben

  1. Chicken tikka
  2. Glastonbury mature cheddar cheese
  3. Nachos

Jon

  1. Smoked salmon
  2. Cream cheese & chive
  3. Rocket lettuce

Mike

  1. Turkey
  2. Cranberry
  3. Stuffing

Sam

  1. Fishfinger sandwich

Me

  1. Chorizo
  2. Cheese
  3. Chicken

There you go.  What three would you choose?  Please leave a reply below and let us know.

Pasta Sauce recipe

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Here’s a recipe for pasta sauce. I would recommend this sauce to be served with meatballs (and pasta of your choice).

Now I’m not one for bragging, but my pasta sauce is gaining quite a reputation as a fine example of the art. And what’s the key ingredient?

AUDACITY.

Do not be afraid, be bold – and this sauce will create itself. The more daring you are the better the results will be.

Pasta Sauce 

  • Onion
  • Green or red pepper
  • Chopped tomatoes (tin of)
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Garlic paste
  • Tomato puree
  • Worcestershire sauce
  • Tabasco sauce
  • Tomato sauce
  • Chilli powder
  • Olive oil
  • Mixed herbs (including Oregano)
  • Sugar
  • Optional: Salsa sauce

Heat some oil in a large pan. When the oil is hot, chop the onion and pepper and put in the pan. Stir and cook the onion and pepper, add some salt and pepper to season.

Add the tin of tomatoes and simmer. After a few minutes, add the tomato puree. Then add Tabasco and Worcestershire sauce – as much as you dare. You will need to add the garlic paste (about half a teaspoon) next, not forgetting to flow the salt and pepper too.

Now is the time to add the rest of the ingredients as you like. Be liberal with your chilli powder – if you dare – and add more Tabasco and Worcestershire sauce. If you have some salsa sauce (try Lidl) or dip, throw a bit of that in. I also like to add a squirt of tomato sauce. Some folks like to add a teaspoon full of sugar, to counter act the acidity of the tomatoes – this is up to you. This is a very simple recipe, I’m sharing it as the message is to play around and see what works. You will notice that I’ve not stated any measurements above as this is the fun part – experiment and see what you can add.

Finally, don’t forget to add the mixed herbs. A generous amount of Oregano will develop an authentic Italian aroma.

Simmer the sauce for a good ten minutes. You will have cooked your meatballs in the oven by now, add them to the sauce when ready.

Prepare the pasta of your choice, and serve together with the meatballs and sauce when ready. Finally, finish with some parmesan cheese.

I hope you enjoy the pasta sauce. Do not be constrained by exact quantities with this recipe – fly free like the brave eagle over the plains, and the joys of exquisite pasta sauce shall be delivered to you.

Questions #3: Pizza Toppings

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What three toppings would you pick for your favourite pizza?

A basic Margherita (base, with cheese and tomato) is all you get to start.  You choose three toppings only.  If you want Barbecue sauce base, for example, that counts as one of your choices.

Here’s what we came up with:

Q: What three toppings would you choose for a pizza?

Terry

  1. Ham
  2. Pepperoni
  3. BBQ Sauce

Ashley

  1. Spicy Beef
  2. Spicy Chicken
  3. Pepperoni

Ben

  1. Spicy Chicken
  2. Bacon
  3. Onion

Mark D

  1. Chocolate
  2. Marshmallow
  3. Space Dust

Wolfie

  1. Pepperroni
  2. Jalapenos
  3. Red Onion

Woody

  1. Chicken
  2. Pepperoni
  3. Ham

Jamie

  1. Pineapple
  2. Ham
  3. Mushroom

Joe

  1. Pepperoni
  2. Jalapeno
  3. Sweetcorn

Dan W

  1. King Prawn
  2. Chorizo
  3. Chicken

Me

  1. Pepperoni
  2. Anchovies
  3. Meatballs

It’s nice to see that mushrooms weren’t a popular choice.

What are your three choices for a great pizza?  Reply below and let me know.

Questions #2: Full English Breakfast Ingredients

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Except it’s not a “full” English breakfast.  You only get to pick four items, not everything.

Remember recently we asked what five ingredients would you pick for a roast dinner?  This time we asked for colleagues favourite four items for a cooked breakfast.  Here are  the answers from the team.

Q: What would be your ideal four ingredients for a cooked breakfast?

Woody

  1. Bacon
  2. Sausage
  3. Fried egg
  4. Baked beans

Wolfie

  1. Black pudding
  2. Hash Brown
  3. Baked beans
  4. Bacon (cooked properly!)

Jack

  1. Bacon
  2. Sausage
  3. Toast
  4. Baked Beans

Dan Webster

  1. Black Pudding
  2. Hash brown
  3. Baked beans
  4. Sausage

Mark D

  1. Kippers
  2. Black pudding
  3. Crispy bacon
  4. Poached egg

Joe

  1. Sausage
  2. Bacon
  3. Hash brown
  4. Baked beans

Terry

  1. Egg
  2. Sausage
  3. Bacon
  4. Toast

Ben

  1. Fried egg
  2. Bacon
  3. Hash brown
  4. Black pudding

Jayne

  1. Beans
  2. Hash brown
  3. Sausage
  4. Bacon

Stu

  1. Sausage
  2. Bacon
  3. Fried egg
  4. Baked beans

Ashley

  1. Black pudding
  2. Hash brown
  3. Baked beans
  4. Bacon

Me

  1. Sausage
  2. Black pudding
  3. Baked beans
  4. Hash brown

Does anyone want to collect this data and create a graph?!

Please feel free to add your chosen four items by replying below.  Any other suggestions for questions? Let me know.

More questions soon.

 

 

Questions #1: Roast Dinner Ingredients

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Occasionally, in work, we have Questions.  A question will be posed by one member of the group, the rest of the group take their turn to provide an answer.  This often encourages  stimulating conversation as each individual’s opinion is thrown into the mix, enlightening their colleagues and giving an insight into their mind.  It also distracts people from fiddling about with their phones for five minutes and enables some social interaction.

I won’t pretend that we debate the deepest philosophical topics, but asking a question does give some food for thought.  In this case, literally.  Here’s a question from this week:

Q: What would be your ideal five ingredients for a roast dinner?

You can pick five items, no more.

Now I hate roast dinners with a passion.  A roast dinner (or Sunday Roast, if you will) is bland, boring food for a dull, miserable rainy day.  Tasteless and uninspiring.  Why bother when you could have Mexican, Indian, or Thai food?  There’s just no need in the 21st Century to eat this stuff.

I will return to how much I detest roast dinners in another post.  For now though, I entered into the spirit of things and gave my answer.  It wasn’t easy.  Here are the items picked by my friends for their ideal, yet limited, roast dinner.

Wolfie

  1. Lamb
  2. Roast potatoes
  3. Minted gravy
  4. Carrots
  5. Cauliflower cheese

Ben

  1. Beef (with fat on it – WTF?)
  2. Roast potatoes
  3. Green runner beans
  4. Yorkshire pudding
  5. Gravy

Mark D

  1. Parsnips crisps
  2. Pigs in blankets
  3. Stilton stuffing
  4. Belly pork
  5. Extra crackling

Brian (Veggie – this is getting worse…)

  1. Yorkshire pudding
  2. Roast potatoes
  3. Stuffing
  4. Honey glazed carrots
  5. Nut roast

Terry

  1. Lamb
  2. Roast potatoes
  3. Carrots
  4. Cauliflower
  5. Gravy

Jayne

  1. Yorkshire pudding
  2. Gravy
  3. Roast potatoes
  4. Gammon
  5. Chicken

Woody

  1. Lamb
  2. Yorkshire pudding
  3. Sprouts
  4. Cheese cauliflower (?!)
  5. Gravy

Ashley

  1. Lamb
  2. Yorkshire pudding
  3. Roast potatoes
  4. Pigs in blankets
  5. Gravy

Me

  1. Chicken
  2. Lamb
  3. Stuffing
  4. Sausage
  5. Gravy

I ignored the vegetable options.  They’re the worst bit.

It’s Sunday today.  If you’re having roast dinner, I hope you enjoy it.  Me, I’m off for a nice curry.

What five items would you pick?  Leave a comment below!